Resilient Product Design: Effective Product Development for the Circular Economy

Companies are currently facing the challenge of having to transform their linear approach to product design into a circular one in order to remain competitive. The reason for this is the increasing pressure in the supply of primary resources, consumer and employee expectations, as well as requirements of financial institutions and tightening regulation with regard to general environmental impacts. A standardized procedure for implementation of circular design in product development is not yet established. Based on an interview study focusing on the product development of manufacturing companies in German-speaking countries, this article summarizes the greatest challenges in the implementation of circularity in products and offers possible solutions for implementation of circular design.